KTR: State to have 1,799 new urban parks

Municipal and urban development minister K. T. Rama Rao on Tuesday told the State Legislative Assembly that 1,799 urban parks are being developed across the state in addition to the existing 1,893 parks.

Replying to questions from members during the Question Hour, he said the state government is working towards development of urban parks on a large scale. He explained that out of the

1,799 new urban parks,

587 parks are being developed in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and 1,109 in other municipalities and municipal corporations. HMDA is taking up development of the remaining 103 parks.

He said that some of these parks will be developed as tree parks, while others are being developed as landscape, urban and Panchatatva parks.

Rama Rao mentioned that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is a lover of greenery and hence promoting Haritha Haaram on a large scale. He reminded the House that the state government had made it mandatory under the New Municipal Act for all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to set aside 10 per cent of their budgets as green budget to develop greenery.

He claimed that “no other state in the country has similar provision or approach towards greenery. The plantation is being taken up as per the Urban Green Plans prepared by the respective ULBs. With promotion of

Haritha Haaram, a culture of planting saplings has already spread into the citizens.”

The minister claimed that green cover in the state has increased to 29 per cent of its total area from 24 per cent when Telangana was formed. This is because of the strict measures initiated by the state government to ensure that at least 80 per cent of the saplings survived.

He said the largest urban ecological park in the country is being developed over 297 acres on outskirts of Mahabubnagar.

He also assured the House that open gyms and public toilets are being developed in GHMC parks based on availability of space.

He stated that rain water harvesting structures and water sumps are being developed in parks to provide necessary water to plants. He announced that a new policy will be brought out soon to reuse water treated by Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) for watering plants.

He further said, “We will also consider suggestions from legislators to develop cycling tracks and skating rinks in urban parks.”